Dolphins most realistic hope for drafting TE might be in later roundsTop two prospects likely to go in first round but third-best could be there in second round

NDIANAPOLIS – The consensus opinion says there are three tight ends in this draft that have the size, hands and skills necessary to excel in today's pass-happy NFL — Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert, Stanford's Zach Ertz and San Diego State's Gavin Escobar.

For years the Dolphins have badly needed a tight end that can run the seam route, be a red zone threat and create mismatches.

But if Miami wants Eifert (6-foot-5, 250), Ertz (6-5, 249) or Escobar (6-6, 254) it might have to over-draft and Eifert or Ertz at No. 12 in the first round, trade down to later in the first round, or hope they can get Escobar in the second round with either the No. 42 or 54 picks.Click here to find out more!

Right now, only Escobar seems plausible and that might be over-drafting. Most likely, if the Dolphins draft a tight end it would be in the third round or later, which could mean he needs lots of polish to fit Miami's need.

"I like the tight ends," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said, "but there is a dropoff after three, so you could see a little bit of a run. A team wants a tight end, they want to make sure they're in that top three."

There are no physical requirements for a tight end nowadays. He just needs pass-catching skills.

"It goes back to what's being played in college, and that's a position

that's not primarily playing a traditional, on the line of scrimmage,

hand in the dirt, 'Y' tight end, as we would call it," Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said. "You've got a lot of detached receiver types that fit a TE body type."

The Dolphins need a tight end who can be a difference maker in the fashion of New England's Rob Gronkowski, San Francisco's Vernon Davis or New Orleans' Jimmy Graham, guys who create matchup nightmares for a defense.

The Dolphins have drafted a tight end/H-back the last two years. Last year they drafted Michael Egnew in the third round and that was a disaster. He made his season debut in the finale.

Two years ago they drafted Charles Clay in the sixth round and although he's flashed, he hasn't been the answer.

So what happens in this year's draft with the Dolphins regarding tight end? It's tough to say.

The projected fourth-best tight end might be Florida's Jordan Reed (6-2, 236), whose skill set matches what the Dolphins need. Michigan State's Dion Sims (6-5, 262) is probably in a close battle with Reed but Sims is more of a hand-in-the-dirt, blocking tight end, which is what Miami already has in starter Anthony Fasano.

I don't know when Eifert will really go, but my guess is later in the first round. In my opinion, I think the fins should trade their number two pick along with another pick to trade back into the first round to get this kid. I think he could be that much of an impact to help Miami's offense.

I don't know when Eifert will really go, but my guess is later in the first round. In my opinion, I think the fins should trade their number two pick along with another pick to trade back into the first round to get this kid. I think he could be that much of an impact to help Miami's offense.

While things can change ( wink, wink ) I fully expect Miami to once again go cheap on the TE position.

While things can change ( wink, wink ) I fully expect Miami to once again go cheap on the TE position.

That's my fear, too. Hopefully Ireland will listen to media and fans who seem to have a better pulse about the position than he does. Parcells' offenses always thrived with a dominating tight end, but all of them were mid round draft picks (Bavaro in the 4th, Coates in the 5th, Witton in the 3rd round). If Ireland can't hit on a tight end in the middle of the draft he may have to start drafting earlier. Of course this is not Parcells offense, but the tight end position needs to seriously be addressed.

If and I know it is a big IF, but Eifert falling past pick number 20 you hope Ireland crafts a trade and snags the kid. For once, Miami should trade to get the best player at a position that we don't need another mediocre tight end leading the way for the fins offense. Imagine getting an impact starter with pick 12, trading up with your number two and possibly one of your 3 picks to move back into the first round and grab another impact starter. Miami would still have a second and third round pick too.